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Bound for pastures new, a consignment of 20 in-calf pedigree Limousin
heifers set out from the Whinfell Park herd in Cumbria on Friday 28th
July 2006 en route for Poland. The shipment was handled by the long-established
Dutch livestock exporters, Firma Schaap, for a customer in Poznan. It
is expected that this is the first in a long line of shipments to EU
accession countries and new member states like Poland, where government
grants are available to establish pedigree and commercial beef herds
from what have traditionally been predominantly dairy herds.
Having brought Holsteins into the North of England the previous day,
slick timing meant that the Limousins could be loaded onto the same transport
which otherwise would have returned empty. This meant that costs could
be kept to a minimum and a deal struck that saw both parties delighted
with their respective returns. “Everything went smoothly from the
transport side and Defra were very helpful in taking us through the health
protocols,” commented Alex Park who coordinated the deal. He added: “With
two drivers on hand and the animals able to be fed and watered in the
state-of-the-art wagon, the cattle arrived in their new home in Poland
within just 26 hours.”
Whinfell Park is home to a 100 strong herd of pedigree Limousin females
who share the 1,700 acre Eden Valley estate with 3,200 breeding ewes.
The heifers were born and bred on the Estate and were mainly by the sires
Ryedale Orion and Pablo. They are due to calve in a three week period
this coming December.
The farm staged Northsheep in June 2005, the National Sheep Association’s
Northern region’s specialist event attended by an estimated 10,000
visitors as well as hosting a spectacular cattle day in August 2004 during
the International Limousin Congress.
Commenting, British Limousin Cattle Society Development Manager Richard
Saunders said: “The re-opening of the European market means we
are able to add live cattle exports to our semen and embryo sales as
part of our targeted export initiative. Continuing this drive, Limousin
cattle will be represented at the major European trade shows in Germany,
Poland and Romania in the autumn of 2006.” For more see www.limousin.co.uk
Editor's note - there will be a strong British presence
at the Polagra Farm exhibition in Poznan from 12 to 15 October
[7 Aug 06]
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